Snowstorm has yet to hit in Aspen

ASPEN ” Little snow had fallen in Aspen by early Thursday, though a coming winter storm is expected to bring up to 2 feet or more of new snow to area mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

A snow advisory was issued effective Wednesday evening and continues until Thursday at 6 p.m., but snow that was forecast overnight Wednesday barely materialized. Less than an inch fell in town overnight and the wet snow/rain on the forefront of the storm left an ice rink on Aspen’s streets early Thursday. No snow was falling in town at 8 a.m.

On the slopes, the Aspen Skiing Co. reported no new snow Thursday as of about 4 a.m. Vail was reporting 4 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours in its 7 a.m. report.

The big snow is yet to come, according to the weather service’s Grand Junction office. A winter storm warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Saturday. The Aspen area can expect 3 to 5 inches of snow above 8,000 feet on Thursday, with higher amounts above 10,000 feet.

Snowfall, heavy at times, will continue Thursday night and into the weekend, with another 1 to 2 feet possible by Saturday evening, according to the weather service.

On Interstate 70, chain laws were in effect for commercial vehicles and buses in both direction at the Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass Thursday morning. Loveland Pass was closed due to adverse conditions.